Discover Wadebridge

Wadebridge combines a distinctive river landscape with a rich railway history, culture and active experiences. The Camel Trail is particularly significant: this 18-mile-long, largely traffic-free, surfaced and almost level multi-use trail follows a disused railway line between Wenfordbridge, Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. Anyone wishing to combine cycling, walking and landscape experiences will find a clear focus for trip planning here.

Out and about on the Camel Trail and the River Camel

The Camel Trail is surfaced and almost level; you can take these features into account when planning your trip. The former railway line was transformed into the Camel Trail and now connects Wadebridge, Padstow and Bodmin. Its history dates back to 30 September 1834, when the Bodmin and Wadebridge Railway opened.

The landscape along the River Camel also changes in character. At Wadebridge, the river is still a small freshwater river. North of Wadebridge, beyond the A39 overpass, it opens out into a broad, shallow estuary. The Camel Estuary National Landscape extends downstream from Padstow and Rock to Wadebridge. When choosing holiday accommodation, this combination of river landscape, trail scenery and historic traces can be an important consideration if you would like to combine active days with peaceful observation of nature.

Museum, railway history and local events

The Wadebridge and District Museum reopened at its current location in September 2013. Its permanent exhibitions include a chronology of Wadebridge and the history of the bridge and railway. Admission is free; the museum is also fully wheelchair accessible and dog-friendly. This offers a way to encounter the town not only outdoors on the trail, but also through its development and transport history.

The John Betjeman Centre is located in the main building of Wadebridge's former railway station. Together with the traces of the former railway, this site gives history a tangible spatial form. If you are interested in literature, railway tradition or the development of small towns, this cultural focus can be incorporated well into your personal selection of travel experiences.

Wadebridge has hosted the Cornwall Folk Festival since 1972. Another established tradition is the annual three-day Royal Cornwall Show in June. It includes a food and agriculture pavilion featuring Cornish food and drink. If you would like to plan your stay around events, regional cuisine and vibrant local culture, you should take these dates into account when planning your trip.

Ideas for families and varied active days

The Wadebridge Skate & BMX Park is located on the Camel Trail near the Piggy Lane car park. The park is open to children and young people of all ages for skating, BMX riding and inline skating, and is accessible to wheelchair users. This allows families to combine an active element with other interests without making every day the same. Those who prefer a quieter pace can choose a 40-minute circular walk. It passes through partly untouched woodland, past a community garden and on to Treraven Farm.

When looking for holiday accommodation in Wadebridge, it is therefore worth deciding first on your preferred travel rhythm: the Camel Trail and skatepark lend themselves to active days, the museum, railway history and Folk Festival to cultural discoveries, while the River Camel and estuary provide the landscape setting. Accommodation in Wadebridge can therefore serve as a suitable base for your preferred combination of activity, history, nature and events, without requiring any particular accommodation features.

If you would like to compare other places for your trip planning, you can find Saint Neot, St Agnes, Liskeard, Altarnun, Stithians, St Pinnock, Portreath and Ludgvan here.

For the higher-level travel overview: Cornwall.